Winterizing Your Koi Pond

Winter is coming, and this will be the first Winter that you go through with your Koi pond. Think of Winter as a down period for your pond, as less events happen during Winter then any other time. However, there are special precautions that you need to take before Winter arrives, to ensure that your pond and fish survive.

Clean Up- Take about a weekend to completely go over your pond. Clean up and unwanted bulk material in and around your pond. Inside your pond, clean up all leaves, slit, and other material from the bottom.

Also, remove any plants or flowers that will not make it through the winter. Around the pond, clean up anything that can blow into your pond, as you are not likely to notice this debris until the end of winter. Taking the time to make sure that as much debris is removed as possible will prevent potentially harmful bacteria and parasites in the future.

Stop Feeding- You must remember to stop feeding your Koi during the winter. When fall begins and the temperatures hover around 55 to 60 degrees, only feed once a day.  Once the temperatures drop below 50 degree for the first time, stop feeding completely. Even if the temperature goes above 50 degrees, still reframe from feeding your fish.

The majority of Koi, when healthy and the temperature are above 50 degrees; take at least four days to completely digest food. If you mistakenly feed your fish to late the food will not digest and will end up killing your fish. Do not mistake you Koi as hungry when they open to their mouths to you. This is more of a learned reflex then hunger.

If you are concerned about not feeding them, remember that fish eat other things besides the food you provide them, especially if your pond contains a large amount of natural plant life. If they are at all hungry and you are not feeding them, they will fill up on this.

Check Up- Do you seasonal check up on all your equipment. This includes everything from your filtration system to your store of preventable medications. Since the majority of ponds in the world lie dormant during the Winter, you are less likely to be able to find the products you need. Make sure your emergency kit is ready and up to date, which should include medications, bags, nets, and your water testing kits.

Prepare For Cold Weather- Prepare for cold weather by investing in the items you will need during the summer. Koi have been known to withstand constant temperatures as low 39 degrees, and temperatures slightly lower then 39 degrees, for short periods of time.

 

 When buying a heater, remember to research what size you will need to adequately heat your pond during the winter, otherwise ice will still form, causing potentially dangerous amounts of gas in the water, due to it being trapped under the ice. In extreme events, it may be a good idea to have an emergency tank inside available.

Turn Off All Water Sources- In colder temperatures, your heater will be working hard to maintain a water temperature suitable enough to keep your fish alive. If you have water features such as waterfalls, streams, or constant moving fountains, make sure to turn them off during Winter. These features will circulate water, and constantly bring new and cold water into your pond. With these switched off, the only water that your heater will be responsible for is the standing water in your pond.

 

Water Feature Turn Off In Winter

Water Feature-Fountain-Easy Free Weekend' Project

If you are like most people, the thought of starting any landscape project can be overwhelming, but here is free an easy weekend project that you can be proud of and won't wear you out. 

 

Your New Water Feature-You Made Yourself

You are going to create a bubbling fountain from a large pot or urn that you can enjoy with this step by step guide.

What you will need -

·        One 30-36" height, large opening pottery, preferable one foot in diameter opening.

·        One 60-80 GPH, grounded submersible outdoor garden pump with adjustable flow rate.

·        One 6-8 foot length of 1/2" copper tubing.

·        One 2 foot length of 5/8" diameter flexible vinyl tubing.

·        One or two bricks or pavers.

·        One concrete stepping stone (larger than pottery base).

·        A nearby outdoor GFRI electrical outlet.

·        A small bag of pea gravel.

·        A tube of liquid silicon chalk.

·        Optional decorative fountain spout.

Selecting Your Pottery -

The first thing you will need is a large, well made, open top urn, preferably at least 30 inches tall and at least a foot wide at the top and bottom.

Choose pottery from a reputable source and check the quality by tapping on the pottery side, you should hear a ringing sound.

Still Not Inspired 

I found some video's on YouTube you need to check them out 

Easy Water Feature Without the Cost –YouTube

How to build a water feature in 60 secs- YouTube

How to Make a Water Fountain- YouTube

Tired Bamboo Fountain Water Outdoor Waterfall Pond Decor Pump- YouTube

KOI Pond, KOI Water Feature, KOI Waterfall

 

Koi Pond Waterfall

 
A water feature in your garden or back yard adds beauty, value, movement - and an amazing sense of tranquility and peace! This article is intended to provide a few tips and ideas to help make the job of installation easier, save money, avoid mistakes, and help you get the most from your new addition!

First, you should decide exactly what you want. A water garden could be anything from a large tub with a few water plants to a huge pond with stream, waterfall, bridge, and extensive plantings of water lilies, bog iris and marginal plants. However, if you also want fish - especially Koi - this adds another level of planning.

With any water feature, nice clean water enhances the overall picture. With Koi, you will also need well-oxygenated water free of chemicals and toxins that could harm your fish.

This includes ammonia generated by fish wastes, and chemicals which might help clear your water and be harmless to plants, but could be toxic to your fish. This is where filtration comes in - and a good filtration system can ease the maintenance of a larger pond even if it doesn't have fish.

Once you've decided what you want, you need to decide how large you want it. And let me tell you - almost anyone who has installed a water feature or pond will tell you that one of the main things they would change would be to make their pond bigger!

Yes, it's possible to expand or add onto an existing installation, but it's almost always less expensive to make the larger installation in the first place!

While you are making plans for rocks, waterfall, plants and so forth, be sure to include a spot to sit and enjoy your pond - and fish, if you have them. Consider adding a feature such as a pergola - these provide broken shade for you and can do the same for the Koi in your pond if extended over a portion of the pond.

You can also wire these to include lighting, or an overhead fan to further add to the comfort of relaxing and enjoying the peace and tranquility of your new addition.

If you aren't sure about Koi, but do want a fairly large pond - install a bottom drain! It doesn't require immediate hookup to a pump or filter, but even without fish it can be invaluable if you need to drain the pond for cleaning, or to repair a leak.

Then, if/when you decide to add Koi at some later date, your bottom drain is already plumbed and just waiting for the addition of a mechanical filter and pump! The plumbing costs very little at this point in time, and can save a lot at a later date.

Here are just a few other things to think about as you are planning your new addition. First, all the dirt that comes out of that hole can be used to:

a) create a raised planting bed along the back;
b) raise the sides of your pond and reduce the depth you need to dig;
c) build up the area where you want a waterfall.

For oxygenation - or just to hear the sound of water - you might also add a fountain or waterfall perhaps in statue form. Plants include bog plants - these can be separated from the main pond with a narrow border that still allows water in to maintain the moisture these plants need.

A stream can add more movement with additional oxygenation and filtering, and waterfalls are great for movement, the music of water in motion, and oxygenation.

A path and bridge can add to your viewing enjoyment. And edging can be grass, slate, brick, rock, or any combination - such as slate for your sitting area, with large rock around the rest of the pond perimeter.

For additional ideas and suggestions, please visit my blog, at
http:// ilovekoi.blogspot.com
For more information click http://Nishiki-colorfulkoi.blogspot.com

Koi, Pond, Water Garden - This is the Year to Get Yours!

Koi, Pond, Water Garden - This is the Year to Get Yours!

A water feature in your garden or back yard adds beauty, value, movement - and an amazing sense of tranquility and peace! This article is intended to provide a few tips and ideas to help make the job of installation easier, save money, avoid mistakes, and help you get the most from your new addition!

First, you should decide exactly what you want. A water garden could be anything from a large tub with a few water plants to a huge pond with stream, waterfall, bridge, and extensive plantings of waterlilies, bog iris and marginal plants. However, if you also want fish - especially koi - this adds another level of planning.

Water Garden

With any water feature, nice clean water enhances the overall picture. With koi, you will also need well-oxygenated water free of chemicals and toxins that could harm your fish. This includes ammonia generated by fish wastes, and chemicals which might help clear your water and be harmless to plants, but could be toxic to your fish. This is where filtration comes in - and a good filtration system can ease the maintenance of a larger pond even if it doesn't have fish.

Once you've decided what you want, you need to decide how large you want it. And let me tell you - almost anyone who has installed a water feature or pond will tell you that one of the main things they would change would be to make their pond bigger! Yes, it's possible to expand or add onto an existing installation, but it's almost always less expensive to make the larger installation in the first place!

While you are making plans for rocks, waterfall, plants and so forth, be sure to include a spot to sit and enjoy your pond - and fish, if you have them. Consider adding a feature such as a pergola - these provide broken shade for you and can do the same for the koi in your pond if extended over a portion of the pond. You can also wire these to include lighting, or an overhead fan to further add to the comfort of relaxing and enjoying the peace and tranquility of your new addition.

If you aren't sure about koi, but do want a fairly large pond - install a bottom drain! It doesn't require immediate hookup to a pump or filter, but even without fish it can be invaluable if you need to drain the pond for cleaning, or to repair a leak. Then, if/when you decide to add koi at some later date, your bottom drain is already plumbed and just waiting for the addition of a mechanical filter and pump! The plumbing costs very little at this point in time, and can save a lot at a later date.

Here are just a few other things to think about as you are planning your new addition. First, all the dirt that comes out of that hole can be used to a) create a raised planting bed along the back; b) raise the sides of your pond and reduce the depth you need to dig; or c) build up the area where you want a waterfall. For oxygenation - or just to hear the sound of water - you might also add a fountain, perhaps in statue form.

Plants include bog plants - these can be separated from the main pond with a narrow border that still allows water in to maintain the moisture these plants need. A stream can add more movement with additional oxygenation and filtering, and waterfalls are great for movement, the music of water in motion, and oxygenation. A path and bridge can add to your viewing enjoyment. And edging can be grass, slate, brick, rock, or any combination - such as slate for your sitting area, with large rock around the rest of the pond perimeter.

For additional ideas and suggestions, please visit my blog, at http://www.ilovekoi.blogspot.com

For more information click here

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